Above:Ben Proell, MCAD GD Senior exhibition, 2013. Ben’s work has been fascinating us at MCAD for some time now, and his final work is no exception. Exploring the vernacular type of local businesses, often hand-painted, his installation attempts to revel in commerce at a human level–pointedly mocking the excess and inhuman qualities of mega chains. Here, Ben sought to celebrate the unique voices of each shop, blending them together into a broader veneration. While both bold and simply fun, the work contains a deep soul.

Above:Ben Proell, MCAD GD Senior exhibition, 2013. As part of his project, Ben is continuing to refine the font he has created titled, SO-DALICIOUS, a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor that has been so important to his larger body of work. As Ben explains, the font is populated by “bubbly, round, dauber type hand writing found on sandwich boards, windows, and butcher paper.”

Above: Commencement poster by Ashley Huhe and Kayla Kern, 2013. Another academic year has passed and MCAD‘s commencement ceremonies are set to take place this Saturday (May 18, 2013). To help celebrate the occasion, Ashley and Kayla were commissioned to design the event collateral, including beautiful posters, programs, and more.

Above:Jasio Stefanski, screenshot from his experimental Badges website. Part of his MFA Thesis at MCAD that I had the distinct pleasure to work with him on, Jas has further developed ideas that initially found form in True Colors (see original post here). Each unit is created in CSS (with a few exceptions), and this process also generated the screenprinted versions (see below). Partially a study of both form and projected/reflected light, the web version of Badges can be manipulated by the viewer and makes for a contemplative if abstract experience.

Above:Jasio Stefanski, Badges install. The projected light environment is complimented by screenprinted versions that Jas installed as part of his thesis exhibition, which opens to the public on May 17, 2013 (Northrup King Building, Gallery 254 in Minneapolis, MN). This reflected light experience is augmented by colored neon tubes arranged in harmony with the main wall.

Above:Jasio Stefanski, True Colors. Some original experiments that led to Badges. The formal nature of these contemplations is what I find most attractive. While abstract in nature, they still resound with a contemporary nature firmly rooted in timeless interests, color, type and image relationships, and a measure of beauty.

Above: Screenshot from the AGI Open London website, designed by Spin. Each year, members of the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI) invite the global design community to gather for two days of lectures, discussion, and camaraderie. This years event is held in London, featuring over thirty speakers and promises to be a truly exciting few days. The organizers hope to break down imaginary barriers between speakers, members, and attendees, and have developed an intriguing program to facilitate the theme of dialogue.

As a recent inductee, I am honored to be participating in the AGI Congress and am eagerly anticipating the Open event. The organizers have also introduced a valuable historical element in the run-up to September, a growing AGI Open Tumblr page that includes work from the earliest AGI members to the present. A mesmerizing collection of the familiar and unfamiliar, now condensed in one place.

AGI Open is an affordable, not-for-profit event, where even AGI members pay their own way. Registration information for a wide variety of participants can be found here. You can also find more information via the AGI Open Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Above: Screenshot detail from the new MCAD MFA website designed by Jasio Stefanski and commissioned by Program Director Tom DeBiaso. Featuring the work of current MFA candidates, this site is augmented by a companion Tumblr and a Facebook page making it easy to keep up to date with new work and events. The detail above features a story on 1st year candidate Huiqian Wu.

Above: Detail showing some of the variables Stefanski programmed which allow the site to take on different faces. The site also provides links to the work of Mentors which teach in the program, making it easy for prospective students to survey potential collaborators in their own candidacy.

Above: Via the MCAD MFA Tumblr, new work by 1st year candidate Liyuan Tong. Also tricked-out by Stefanski, this companion site offers another valuable view into the work currently happening within the program.

The upcoming 2013 MFA Thesis Exhibition will feature the work of graduating candidates. Opening May 17th, 2013 (6-9:30pm) at the Northrup King Building in Minneapolis. Free and open to the public.